Women's Basketball | 3/7/2012 5:29:00 PM
INTO THE MADNESS
The Lady Hornets take on Tarleton State in the first round of the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament. ESU is 26-12 (.684) all-time in NCAA Tournament play to rank fifth in wins and winning percentage among current NCAA D-II Teams.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State battled back from a 17 point deficit to pull within six before falling 68-59 to Washburn in the MIAA Tournament Championship game in Municipal Auditorium. The Lady Blues went to the locker rooms with a 33-22 lead and extended their lead to 17 points with 9:07 left in the game. Kelsey Balcom hit back to back three pointers and Kathryn Flott connected on a three pointer during an 11-0 run to make it 51-45 with 6:08 remaining. WU connected on nine of ten free throws in the final 1:48 to seal the win. ESU was led by Balcom with 17 points and eight rebounds. ESU was 20 of 49 from the field for 40.8%, made nine of 18 three-point attempts, and were ten of 12 from the free throw line. WU went 21 of 48 from the field for 43.8%, were seven of 16 from the three-point line and converted on 19 of 23 from the charity stripe.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 41-17 in his second year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. He is 4-2 in the MIAA Tournament and 5-7 vs. Top 25 teams. This is his 11th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and ESU has advanced to the NCAA tournament in eight of his ten previous seasons. This is his first meeting with Tarleton.
Ronnie Hearne is 171-87 in his ninth year at Tarleton State. He is 0-2 against the Lady Hornets.
SCOUTING THE TEXANNS
Tarleton State is 23-8 overall and went 17-3 in the Lone Star Conference. They were the regular season and tournament champions of the LSC. This is their third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and fourth overall. TSU is 1-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. They are led by the Adamson sisters. Peyton averages 13.6 points per game and leads the nation in free throw percentage while Shelby averages 13.0 points per game.
THE SERIES
ESU leads the all-time series 3-0. The first win was an 81-35 victory in White Auditorium to open the 1997-98 season. The last two have been in the first round of the NCAA Tournament - an 85-67 win during the 2006 South Central Regional in Topeka and a 90-71 win in the 2010 Regional in Canyon, Texas.
LAST TIME VS. TARLETON
The #15 Lady Hornets used a 22-0 run in the first half on their way to a 90-71 win over Tarleton State in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Division II Women’s South Central Regional Basketball Tournament in Canyon, Texas. Cassondra Boston led ESU with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists while Alli Volkens added 21 points and seven rebounds. ESU led 10-8 at the first media timeout when the Lady Hornets went on a 22-0 run to go up 32-8 with 8:02 left in the half.
UP NEXT
The winner will take on the winner of the other Session 2 game between Washburn and West Texas A&M. Tip-off of the regional semifinal is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday night.
